Worldwide Smart Meter Shipments Grew Sequentially in the Second Quarter of 2012 from a Tepid Q1, Finds Pike Research Tracker

Rebounding from a soft first quarter, worldwide smart meter shipments
picked up steam in the second quarter of 2012. According to a new
tracker report from Pike
Research, a part of Navigant's Energy Practice, global volumes in
the quarter totaled 18 million units, up sequentially by nearly 19
percent. Even in North America, where the pace of deployments has slowed
in recent months, meter shipments grew in the second quarter from the
first three months of the year, the study concludes.

"The second quarter shipment gains are encouraging, but in North America
shipments will start to dwindle as major smart metering projects reach
completion this year," says senior research analyst Neil Strother. "The
next phase of growth is shifting to projects in Western Europe and Latin
America, where sizeable deployments are expected in the next couple of
years. And, of course, China continues to deploy at a rapid pace as it
strives to fulfill its goal of some 300 million smart meters by
mid-decade."

China accounted for the vast majority of global shipments, with 73
percent of the market in the quarter, according to the report. Chinese
planners have apparently decided to forge ahead with major deployments
despite a slowing economy, as a robust electric grid remains a key
component of the country's plans for sustained growth. Similarly, the
European market demonstrated significant increases despite economic
headwinds, as smart meter rollouts gained momentum in Spain and the
United Kingdom.

The Smart
Grid Deployment Tracker, updated quarterly, provides detailed
analysis of worldwide utility smart grid and smart meter programs
including tracking of customer endpoints, metering vendors,
communications vendors, and systems integrators. The tracker includes a
tactical examination of technologies, deployment timeframes, and vendor
selections for each utility deployment, along with vendor market share
analysis. An Executive Summary of the report is available for free
download on the Pike
Research website.

Pike Research, which joined Navigant's global Energy Practice on July 1,
2012, provides in-depth analysis of global clean technology markets. The
team's research methodology combines supply-side industry analysis,
end-user primary research and demand assessment, and deep examination of
technology trends to provide a comprehensive view of the Smart Energy,
Smart Grid, Smart Transportation, Smart Industry, and Smart Buildings
sectors. Additional information about Pike Research can be found at www.navigant.com/pikeresearch.

About Navigant

Navigant (NYSE: NCI) is a specialized, global expert services firm
dedicated to assisting clients in creating and protecting value in the
face of critical business risks and opportunities. Through senior level
engagement with clients, Navigant professionals combine technical
expertise in Disputes and Investigations, Economics, Financial Advisory
and Management Consulting, with business pragmatism in the highly
regulated Construction, Energy, Financial Services and Healthcare
industries to support clients in addressing their most critical business
needs. More information about Navigant can be found at www.navigant.com.

* The information contained in this press release concerning the
report, "Smart Grid Deployment Tracker," is a summary and
reflects Pike Research's current expectations based on market data and
trend analysis. Market predictions and expectations are inherently
uncertain and actual results may differ materially from those contained
in this press release or the report. Please refer to the full report for
a complete understanding of the assumptions underlying the report's
conclusions and the methodologies used to create the report. Neither
Pike Research nor Navigant undertakes any obligation to update any of
the information contained in this press release or the report.